Abu Dhabi Police warns rubberneckers and curious pedestrians

A new traffic management scheme aims to reduce congestion and accidents on a major Dubai route. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

ABU DHABI // Slowing down to take a look at an accident scene out of curiosity has caused more crashes in the past, Abu Dhabi Police warned as they reminded motorists that they will be fined Dh1,000 each for doing so.

The new offence known as “disturbing traffic flow and crowding during accidents” was introduced at the beginning of the month as part of the new traffic regulations which came into effect.

It is also a must to make room for emergency and civil defence vehicles to pass through, motorists were reminded.

Major Abdullah Al Qubaisi, head of traffic control at the police, said there were a number of accidents caused by rubberneckers and “curious pedestrians who would cross over to the scene of the accident, unaware of moving vehicles, which puts their life at risk”.

He also warned “curious people” who take photos of crashes and injured victims to post them on social media, that they could face legal consequences for breaching privacy. He said if they have good intentions in an aim to provide humanitarian assistance to injured parties, they can do so by not interfering or crowding as it disrupts emergency services.